It was a political statement when feminists removed their bras in the 1960s, and a fashion statement when Carla Bruni-Sarkozy did likewise at an official reception four decades later. Now a French professor has caused controversy by suggesting that many women should follow suit and go bra-less.

Jean-Denis Rouillon, professor of sports science at the University Hospital of Besançon in eastern France, has come to the intriguing conclusion that bras are at best useless, and for younger women could increase the sagging of breasts with age. “The impression that breasts fall without a bra is an illusion,” he said.

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In the interests of research I am writing this article bra-less. And though I would love to prop up Professor Rouillon’s theory that breasts don’t sag without a bra, I’m afraid the evidence here very definitely points elsewhere.

Prof Rouillon can tell me until he’s blue in the face that a bra is a "false need" but I can’t help noticing that he is a man. And thus, presumably, he has never run down the stairs sans brassière to answer the door to the postman feeling like his norks were about to snap off and fly over both shoulders.

Sorry, but these are facts. It is why Miranda Hart jokes about holding them when she runs.

I won’t deny that bras can be uncomfortable, and, in certain underwired cases, like instruments of torture. But it’s the lesser of two evils, frankly. Going without them gives you backache, a dowager’s hump and the impression that two labrador puppies are tussling under your jumper.

So thank you for spending 15 years studying 320 women’s breasts . But if it’s all the same to you I’ll just put my M&S firm control back on. Aah, now that’s better.